Serving at Christmas

Wanted to share some photos of two of the service projects we were involved in this year.

The first is a blanket making party with our Five in a Row group.  We have done this same project for many years and it is a lot of fun.  We like that it offers something for all ages from cutting and tying the blankets to making cards to go with them.  

I did something a little different this year.  I often spend much of my time there helping to cut blankets and thus have not been able to be as hands on with my own children.  This year, I sat down in advance and showed them how to tie their own blankets.  This was such a positive thing for Daniel in particular.  He loved helping and worked on 3.5 blankets!

My little cutie brought Phineas to help out.  

Making cards to go along with the blankets.

Its always fun to work on a project with a friend!

Mamas busy at work.

While the little ones play.

Eliana spent some time taking pictures.  She always gets great smiles from everyone!

Isaiah with a finished blanket.  We choose something for the age and gender of each of our children to make and donate.

One of the girls brought and set up a play area for the little ones.  She did a fabulous job playing with them and helping to keep them entertained - and all on her own initiative too!

Love seeing the young ones wanting to learn and help out.

This is a great project for boys and girls of various ages!

After working for a couple of hours, we took a break for a potluck lunch.

And had a wonderful pile of blankets ready to be used.

Some of the group with blankets.  (I didn't get a photo before some people had to leave.)

We also served again at Operations Christmas Child this year.  We have done this for several years now and it is such a fun place to work!  This was Joshua's first year going as you have to be 13 to volunteer.

We joined another small group which actually had a friend in it!  What fun!  We each learned our jobs and then set to work.

Rebecca spent over 4 hours taping boxes shut!

We worked as an assembly line.  First checking the boxes for money or checks used to pay for shipping.

Next the boxes were inspected to make sure that there were no items that weren't allowed - liquids, food, etc.

If anything is removed, more things are added in to keep the box full and complete  Then it is taped up.

The boxes are sorted by age and gender and packed into larger boxes.

Its always interesting to see all of the neat things that people pack into the boxes.

We also enjoy hearing stories of how the boxes are used by God to bless and encourage others.

We were at the facility in Charlotte - the biggest of the seven processing sites.

At the end of the time there, we are tired but glad to have served.

What a wonderful group and we are glad to have been able to help.

Praying that God will use these boxes to bless and meet needs of the many who receive them.  Praying that they would know that God loves them deeply!

Blessings
Leslie

Operation Christmas Child & Service project

Wanted to share some photos from our time at Operation Christmas Child.  This is such a wonderful experience!  I highly recommend it to anyone able to do it.  You need to be at least 13 years old and the reservations go quickly!  We called the day that the registration opened (I think it was Aug 1st) to get our group signed on.

There are 7 facilities in different states.  We are blessed to have 2 here in NC.  We drove to the Charlotte facility to work.  Since it was soooo close ... we made a stop by Ikea on the way.  LOL  What a fun store!

 We met some friends to work with again this year.  We started out in the training area, learning about the various steps in the process.

 From inspecting boxes to packaging, each person has a different role.

 We started out in an area where there were lots of extra things donated for the boxes.  More  boxes are filled with these extra things and brought to the stations.  If there is a shoebox that has to have something removed (ex. liquid items that can't be shipped), then more things can be put into the box.  Or if a box just has room for more things, there are options here to add.

 Met my long-time FIAR friend Bo and her daughter too!  Wish we had more time to chat - we'll have to plan that better next year.  :-)

 Lots of smiles because this really is a fun place to work.  Its neat to hear the stories of how the boxes have touched and changed people's lives!  Changed lives ... all from a shoebox!  God is good!

 My girl hard at work!

 A  picture of the "lines" where the boxes are inspected and then packed to be shipped.  The large boxes are labelled for age group (2-4, 5-9, 10-14) and gender.      

 Rebecca and I in front of the filler area.

 Loved seeing this in one of the boxes!  This is a book from our homeschool curriculum and I loved thinking about a little boy or girl in another country reading this sweet story.  :-)

 After working in the filler area for awhile, we then moved to one of the lines.  We again were given different jobs.  Some inspected boxes, others helped label boxes and some helped pack boxes.  This is also the area where boxes were scanned if the person sending it asked for a notice of where the box was sent.

 There is a list of things to look for that can't be included in the box.  Things are only removed if necessary and the integrity of the box is kept intact as much as is possible.

 The goal was to get at least 15 shoeboxes into each large shipping box.  The green and red "official" boxes sure were easy to pack!  It was challenging to pack the various sizes - kind of like working a puzzle so that you could maximize the space and the number of boxes!

 This is a view from the upper level of the warehouse floor.

Just getting ready to leave.  We had a wonderful time working and look forward to going again next year.  Roger was sweet to stay home with our younger children so that Rebecca and I could enjoy this day out.

All the volunteers are given an OCC shirt.

We treated ourselves to Olive Garden on the way home.  It was a long, fun and fulfilling day spent with people I really enjoy being with.

We also did a service project with our FIAR homeschool group.  This is one we have done for a number of years and it has worked well with the age range of our group.  We make fleece blankets to donate to children in a local shelter.  

 We also make cards to go along with the blankets.

 There is something for everyone and we end with a potluck lunch.

 Having done this for a few years now, more are comfortable with cutting and making the blankets and that is fun too.

 I love seeing the variety in all that is made.  I imagine it blessing so many children.

 We pray over the blankets and the people who will be receiving them.  I'm thankful we can serve our community in this way.

 I'm thankful for friends that are willing to serve.

I would love to find more projects that we can do throughout the year that are things a wide range of ages can do.  My youngest is a little challenging in some arenas.  *grin*  Anyone have any suggestions?

Blessings

Leslie